Intimacy With God and Man - part III

Throughout scripture, we see God modeling the concept of intimate spiritual relationship.

The Trinity

God, the Spirit, and Christ are all one: 3 distinct persons, yet all God.  This is a mystery. Some have described it as the similarity between water, ice, and steam. Others liken it to a man who is a son, a father, and a husband all at the same time. Every possible explanation falls short. In our humanity, we are unable to fully grasp this concept. But what we can understand is that there is no more intimate relationship than what is exemplified by the triune God. Father, Spirit, and Son – all One. All God. One God.

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form." Colossians 2:9

“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word [Christ], and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." 1 John 5:7 KJV

 

The Holy Spirit Came to Live in Us

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” John 16:7

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

God has made promise not only to be here for the believer but to also live within the believer by His Spirit!

God Walked With Adam and Eve in the Cool of the Evening

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day,..” Genesis 3:8a
Commentaries suggest that this visiting in the cool of the day likely was a regular occurrence with God.

God Created Eve for Adam.  Man and woman, together, represent the fullness of God.

“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” Genesis 2:18

“But though he [Adam] was lord of the creatures, yet nothing in this world was a help meet [companion and helper] for man. From God are all our helpers. If we rest in God, He will work all for good. God caused deep sleep to fall on Adam; while he knows no sin, God will take care that he shall feel no pain. God, as her Father, brought the woman to the man, as His second self, and a help meet for him. That wife, who is of God's making by special grace, and of God's bringing by special providence, is likely to prove a help meet for a man.”

- Matthew Henry

Jesus Sent Out the Disciples Two-by-Two
“Calling the Twelve to him, He [Jesus] began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.” Mark 6:7

Remember Ecclesiastes 4:9&10: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

Jesus Called Twelve Men to Learn From Him Directly

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.  When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles:” Luke 6:12&13

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you” John 15:16

These men were selected to be in close relationship with the Lord and to be the foundation of His church.

Jesus Selected Peter, James, and John for Closest Relationship

Edward Smith notes: Jesus selected these three for special elevation. On three very special occasions, He took them apart from the others….
Among the Twelve, Jesus poured His life into an inner circle that had a key role in establishing the church. Peter, James and John were privileged to be with Jesus when He healed Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37), at the Transfiguration of Christ (Mark 9:2), and during His time of agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37).  The important thing about these three instances is that they portray an increasing sequence of Jesus’ attempt to bring the three disciples to a higher level of spiritual consciousness. 

 

God models the priority of spiritually intimate relationship in the Godhead. Scripture records His presence many times with the Old Testament patriarchs. Christ came and walked among man and related intimately with us, and then sent His Holy Spirit to forever reside with us. Clearly God prioritizes intimate spiritual relationships. Anything the Lord prioritizes, we must also prioritize.

Over the next several days, we will look at ways in which we can pursue intimate relationship with God and man.

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